Yankees: Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez save season with clutch hits vs Twins
The New York Yankees were an on 0-35 run of games in which they trailed by four or more runs. Then … the Minnesota Twins came to town.
After taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Twins looked to be sending the Yankees packing earlier than anybody expected. How do you possibly come back after that when Francisco Lindor’s three home runs edged you out the night prior in a tense Subway Series battle? You’re now playing from what you’ve proven to be an insurmountable hole.
Ah, but the 2019 Yankees have returned! On Monday, no lead was safe. The Yankees trailed 5-0, but they chipped away. DJ LeMahieu knocked in Tyler Wade with a sac fly in the sixth. Joey Gallo hit a solo homer in the seventh (after breaking up the no-hitter with a bunt single).
Then Aaron Judge brought the house down in the eighth with what might go down as the most clutch hit of the Yankees’ 2021 season.
After leaving Sunday night’s game due to dizziness, which ultimately cost the Yankees because Brett Gardner had to bat — and struck out — in Judge’s spot with runners on first and second in the top of the ninth when they were down by one, the slugger helped breathe life into the team’s wilting playoff chances.
A game-tying three-run bomb off Alex Colome flipped the script.
Aaron Judge tied it, and then Gary Sanchez won it for the Yankees.
We have a 5-5 game! Aroldis Chapman and Clay Holmes kept the game tied with their two innings of work (including ManfredBall!) and it all came down to Gary Sanchez in the bottom of the 10th.
After Gio Urshela failed to bunt in spectacular fashion, Sanchez made all of those groans disappear by ripping a sinker into the left field corner, which scored Gleyber Torres, who struck out on one of the worst ball fours you’ll ever see in the bottom half of the ninth.
6-5! Walk-off! Now 1-35 in games trailing by four or more runs! Still alive in the Wild Card race. More fuel to keep this dimly lit fire going, which was ignited on Saturday night with Judge’s clutch home run, followed by Giancarlo Stanton’s trash-talking clearing the benches on Sunday night.
Don’t blow out the candle just yet! That wick is still burning.